Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“There has been much ill-informed talk of the ability for the Assembly to be recalled for a single day to activate ‘Daithi’s Law’.
“Everyone is touched by Daithi’s plight and wish only the best for him, but it is deceptive to pretend that if the outstanding regulations were approved then Daithi’s is assured of a transplant. At best all it would do is that in time it would increase the pool of available organs by reason of all citizens being opted in to donating in the event of death, unless they opt out. Of course, as someone who supported Daithi’s law I favour the legislative change.
“The political deception lies in the pretence the regulations could be approved through an Assembly that would come back for one day only.
“The legal reality is that there can be no Speaker, without deputy Speakers, and once elected the Assembly resumes all its functions, whether or not the Speaker stays in office. So, what is being suggested by the Secretary of State in his shameful political exploitation of Daithi’s situation is but a wheeze to get the Assembly up and running permanently, while his government and his Protocol continues to dismantle the Union, as confirmed this week in the Supreme Court.
“This is not something which can be supported. Instead the Secretary of State, who was swift to aid death in the womb, should speedily take the regulations through Westminster and leave his politicking aside.”